Quaternary stratigraphy and prospects for placer tin in the Taiping

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Bullclin 17. Occcmbcr I')X-I: pp.
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Quaternary stratigraphy and prospects for
placer tin in the Taiping-Lumut area, Perak
T.
SUNTHARALINGAM
Geological Survey of Malay.sia
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
INTRODUCTION
The Quarternary Geology Division of the Geological Survey of Malaysia since
early 1977, has been carrying out systematic mapping of the unconsolidated sediments
in the coastal areas of Taiping, Beruas and Lumut. The technique of mapping and
other related details are given elsewhere (Suntharalingam, 1984). The main aim of the
project is to map the sediments and indicate the areas of economic interest for further
exploration. Figure I shows the area under discussion.
STRATIGRAPHY
Three stratigraphic units namely the continental Simpang Formation
(equivalent to the Old Alluvium of Walker, 1955), Gula Formation, and the
continental Beruas Formation (equivalent to the Young Alluvium of Walker, 1955)
have been delineated in the area. They were based on the lithology, heavy mineral
content and, to a lesser extent, on palaeoenvironment (Suntharalingam, 1982). Table I
shows the correlation of these units with those of earlier workers, and Figure 2 shows
the Quaternary geology map of the area.
Simpang Formation
The term Simpang Formation was introduced by Suntharalingam and Teoh (In
manuscript) for a unit made of gravel, silt and clay overlying bedrock in the Taiping
area. The formation is divided into two members i.e. the Lower Sand Member which
consists of sand and gravel and the Upper Clay Member which is mainly clay.
The thickness of the formation varies from a few metres in the east to more than 50
m in the west. The common heavy minerals in the Lower Sand Member are ilmenite,
tourmaline, pyrite and magnetite. Zircon, cassiterite and siderite are present in small
amounts (I to 5 percent) whereas monazite, xenotime, topaz, rutile, corundum and
. anatase occur in trace amourtts. However, in the Upper Clay Member the heavy
mineral content is poor.
The formation is believed to be Pleistocene in age and the deposits are continental
and fluviatile in nature.
Gola Formation
The name Gula Formation was introduced by Suntharalingam and Teoh (in
manuscript) for a unit comprising mainly of grey to greenish grey marine to estuarine